Page 15 of Texas Temptation

If Cade Everett wanted her to know how to run the phone, he’d have to show her or let her learn as she went.

A separate phone, a single line, rang. Jordan lifted it.

“Everett Enterprises,” she said brightly.

“Hi, Mommy. Rosita said I could call you to see if you’re coming to lunch. She made tacos and salad and other stuff.”

Jordan glanced at the clock. It was almost one.

“Yes, I could go for some lunch. I’ll be right there.”

The morning hours had flown by.

Cade was on the phone—again. It hadn’t stopped ringing since that first call. She’d found the message pads and carefully wrote the names and numbers. Getting jumbled up on two messages, she figured he’d know what the call was about.

Did she just leave for lunch? Should she let him know she was leaving?

She went to the door to his office, the stack of phone messages in hand. He looked up and covered the receiver with his hand.

“Do you need something?” he asked.

“Caleb called and said Rosita had prepared lunch.”

“Bring me back a plate.”

With that, he resumed his phone conversation.

She placed the stack of notes on his desk and took off.

Jordan savored the warm sunshine as she crossed from the office to the main house. The sky was cloudless. The scent of dried grass and a hint of cattle and horses filled the air. What a difference from the downpour when they arrived.

She could hardly believe all that had transpired since that afternoon. First, Cade had not been the man she was looking for. Then she’d fainted away like some Victorian wimp, which made her feel totally a flake.

Being sick was not deliberate, but she still couldn’t believe the hospitality of the Everetts to put her up for four days. And instead of demanding compensation, Cade was going to pay for Caleb’s surgery. It all seemed like a dream. Would she awaken soon and find she was late for work at Joe’s Fish Tacos?

However, walking up the steps into the house, Jordan felt exhausted. Not that she’d admit that to anyone. She didn’t want Cade to think she wasn’t up to the job and withdraw his offer. She hoped the midday meal would perk her up—maybe even enough to finish the day in the office.

Or it might be better to take Cade up on his offer to take the afternoon off. She had to make plans for their stay in Texas. Hopefully Amelia would suggest a reasonably priced apartment complex. If she didn’t return to work today, she could drive into Tumbleweed and find accommodation.

And a day care center for Caleb.

There were tons of things to do, but none of them seemed insurmountable. After all, her darling little boy would soon have his eyes fixed.

Amelia and Caleb were already seated at the large dining room table when Jordan joined them.

“Cade not coming?” Amelia asked, peering behind Jordan.

“He’s on the phone, asked if I’d bring a plate. Should I take it first?”

“No, dear. Sit down and eat. You look pale. Maybe you should take a long nap this afternoon. You just got up this morning for the first time in four days. My mother always said a woman needed to look after herself because the menfolks surely wouldn’t.”

“Tacos, Mommy,” Caleb said, holding up a crisp corn tortilla filled with meat, lettuce and cheese.

“It looks delicious, sweetie.”

Jordan sat where Amelia indicated and soon had her own plate filled with a delicious taco salad. Rosita had made the traditional tacos for Caleb. Jordan was surprised and touched at the extra effort the housekeeper had gone to for her son.

“Come with me to see the horses after lunch,” Caleb said.

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